Marriott Dubai properties expand their teams

The JW Marriott Dubai recently appointed Iyad Zakaria as their new Director of Sales. The Jordanian national began his career in hotels straight after university in 1999 where he worked as a trainee in the Grand Hyatt Amman, Jordan, before working his way up the ranks to Sales Manager only three years later.

From Hyatt, he moved onto Marriott where he devoted himself to the position of Senior Sales Manager at Doha Marriott in Qatar from 2004. With a degree in Public Administration and Public Relations, and broad knowledge of the Middle East market, Zakaria brings with him excellent leadership and communication skills.

Joining the JW Marriott Dubai as their new Events and Conference Manager is Siddharth Jayprakesh Joshi. This Indian national began his career in food and beverage at the Renaissance Mumbai Hotel in 2002. During his three year span at this property, Joshi gained valuable experience in the properties food and beverage outlets, which he took with him to his new position as Asssitant Conference and Banqueting Manager at Goa Marriott Resort in 2005. Joshi holds a Bachelors Degree in Hotel Management, specialising in Catering Technology.

The JW Marriott Dubai recently promoted Maria Ruane to the position of Catering Event Sales Manager. With a strong bakground in service, this British national has extensive knowledge in the food and beverage industry, beginning her career as a restaurant manager, where she later moved onto work as Head Chef at the Scottish and Newcastle Breweries until 1993. Between 1993 and 1997, she had a dual role as Catering Department Manager at Fenwicks of Newcastle and Bar Operations Manager at The George Washington Hotel and Golf Club. From 1997 to 2004, Ruane held the position of Cabin Service Director for Qatar Airways. She has held positions across the spectrum, and has experience in Marketing, Business Develoment and Event Management, which led her to her new postion at the JW Marriott Dubai.

Joining the Marriott Executive Apartments, Dubai Creek as the Director of Sales is Ahmad Shaban. This Jordanian national brings with him a strong background in account management and sales. He began his career with Marriott in 2002 at the Jordan Marriott Hotel, where he worked for two years as the property's Account Manager, and was later promoted as Senior Account Manager in 2004, responsible for the key accounts of all three Marriott properties in Jordan. Shaban holds a degree in Economics and has an excellent track record of volume and profit contributions during his time at the Jordan Marriott Hotel.

Meanwhile, the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel, Dubai Green Community recently appointed Stefan Lehmann as their new Food and Beverage Supervisor. Born in Germany, he began his career as a trainee at the Landhaus Carstens in 1996, where he was later promoted to Demi chef de Bar in 1999.

From there, he moved onto the Forum Hotel in Hamburg as Catering and Events Coordinator in 2000, and later as as Conference Coordinator at the Country Inn Suites. He began his carrer in Marriott in 2005, where he worked as the Assistant Conference & Events Manager in the Northampton Marriott Hotel, and was promoted to Restaurant and Bars manager later that year. With extensive experience in food and beverage and having worked in operations at both a level and senior level, Lehmann offers a sound knowledge of hotel operation.